craftyhunnypie Posted April 12, 2008 Share Posted April 12, 2008 Buff Wyandottes & Partridge Cochins can be sexed at day old chicks? I only ask as my eggs are due to hatch on Monday & were wiggling about last last. Very funny to watch!!! We have set up the heat lamp and are testing the temperature & it doesn't seem to be warm enough. But do the chicks absorb the infra red heat and the air temperature stays room temperature or what? The shavings feel warm & the teddy bear that is in there is warm..the are obviously absorbing the heat, but the thermometer (new digital one) is only reading 19 degrees C ..our average room temperature. Where should the thermometer be..in the shavings? Emma.x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
feemcg Posted April 12, 2008 Share Posted April 12, 2008 I don't know about Cochins, but you couldn't sex Wyandottes as day olds (unless you were a pro at vent-sexing). At about a week you might start to get clues from the way they feather up. Are you using an infra-red lamp? - I use a ceramic dull-emitter bulb as it doesn't give out any light, only heat, so the chicks get used to natural day and night. I've heard infra-red light can cause depletion in the vitamins in the chick crumb and also cause the chicks to be irritated and start pecking one another . I use kitchen towel over non-slip rubber matting for the 1st week or so, then put them onto Easibed - I've heard of chicks being put straight onto shavings, and they eat the shavings and sometimes choke on them, so you'd need to watch them very carefully. I've never used a thermometer in the brooder - just observe the chicks behaviour, and you can tell whether they're too hot or too cold. If they're cheeping a lot and huddled under the lamp they're too cold, if they're avoiding being under the lamp or breathinfg with their beaks open, they're too hot. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
craftyhunnypie Posted April 12, 2008 Author Share Posted April 12, 2008 Hi - I've sorted the temperature now - thanks to my sister, who has called round & checked everything. She has hatched lots of chicks & they have always been raised on shavings & infrared heat lamps with no problems, so I think I will stick to her recommendations. (Her hubby is a farmer too). She has also brought me a brand new infra red bulb as a spare too. Just been watching all the eggs moving about, so funny - wiggle wiggle.Been singing to them & talking to them!!! SO it's just a matter of waiting now, which is really hard to do, knowing that they are kicking away in the eggs! Been trying to listen for cheeping - my sister says she could hear it, but I probably wouldn't anyway - due to not being able to hear certain tones. I can't har digital alarm clocks, that's why I have a cockerel alarm clock! I didn't think you could sex Wyandottes or Cochins, but I have been told I will be able to sex the Cobars. Apparently the males are lighter brown with a pale spot on their heads. So watch this space!!! Emma.x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CockADoodleDoo Posted April 12, 2008 Share Posted April 12, 2008 i would say the infra red bulb would be ok because infra red is thermal radiation or (heat). and Good Luck! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
craftyhunnypie Posted April 12, 2008 Author Share Posted April 12, 2008 It's what they use at Wernlas too & theirs are also on shavings. Emma.x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bronze Posted April 12, 2008 Share Posted April 12, 2008 I use a red bulb though next time it will be a ceramic one. I keep mine on hemcore with kitchen towel over the top. I change the kicthen towel daily because they poo soooooo much. Then after a week or so I stop using the towel. I do know of people who've had chicks eat shavings. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
feemcg Posted April 12, 2008 Share Posted April 12, 2008 I know plenty people use IR without any problems but I also prefer the idea of them getting natural day and night time. I whistle and talk to my eggs when they start rocking and rolling and I'm convinced they move and cheep in response - I can hear them cheeping in the eggs when I'm in the dining room on the computer and they're through in the utility room - it's lovely Good luck with the hatch. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bronze Posted April 12, 2008 Share Posted April 12, 2008 I use a red bulb though next time it will be a ceramic one. I keep mine on hemcore with kitchen towel over the top. I change the kicthen towel daily because they poo soooooo much. Then after a week or so I stop using the towel. Oh and make sure the heat source is down one end so they can escape to the other if needs be. I put the food and water down the cool end so the water doesnt evaporate and the heat effect the crumb. I do know of people who've had chicks eat shavings. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
